Articulate power driven land vehicle with a demountable golf bag cart as a front section

ABSTRACT

An articulate power driven pusher-type land vehicle with a rear section having a wheel supported frame carrying an engine for driving the wheels, a tongue projecting forwardly therefrom and a seat supported above the engine, together with a front section comprising wheel supported golf bag supporting means with a handle projecting therefrom, said front section being pivotally connected to said rear section for steering purposes and being detachable therefrom to permit of using the front section as a manually propelled golf bag cart.

I Umted States Patent 1111 3,5 3,510

[72] In Paul Hastings 2,867,449 1/1959 Shawver 180/11X 1206 East GordonAve., Spokane, Wash. 2,890,065 6/1959 Shaffer..... 280/492 992072,895,279 7/1959 Schrage 1. 180/11X 1 1 pp 788,674 2,919,758 1/1960Newton et al.... 180/25 Filed 5, 1968 3,059,713 10/1962 Beggs 180/13 1Patented June 8,1971 3,087,562 4/1963 Harks 180/11 3,134,607 5/1964 Doll280/111X ARTICULATE POWER DRIVEN LAND VEHICLE 3,199,621 8/1965 Seaman180/11 wrrn A DEMOUNTABLE GOLF BAG CART AS A Primary ExaminerKenneIhBans FRONT SEC'UON Att0rneyAleX Lagaard 5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 180/11,

280/515, 280/11 1 ABSTRACT: An articulate power driven pusher-type landlllt. vehicle a rear e tion having a wheel supported frame [50] Field ofSearch 180/11, 12, carrying an engine f driving the wheels, a tongueprojecting 13,21 25; 280/492 v 1 1 1 forwardly therefrom and a seatsupported golf bag supporting Reierenm Cited means with a handleprojection therefrom, said front section being pivotally connected tosaid rear section for steering pur- UNITED STATES PATENTS poses andbeing detachable therefrom to permit of using the 2,828,827 4/ 1958Chouinard 180/12 front section as a manually propelled golf bag cart.

PATENTED JUN. 8 IBYI SHEET 1 BF 2 INVENTOR.

PAUL F. HASTINGS PATENTED JUN 8 1971 SHEET 2 0F 2 FIG. 5

l6 l5 I2 26 7 m@ V T W NT- W45 mm F L w P lal IOI

FIG. 7

I26 I25 I28 ATTORNEY ARTICULATE POWER DRIVEN LAND VEHICLE WITH ADEMOUNTABLE GOLF BAG CART AS A FRONT SECTION CROSS-REFERENC ES None.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to articulate power drivenland vehicles with a removable front section supporting a golf bag andadapted to be used as a manually propelled golf bag cart.

PRIOR ART To applicantss knowledge no prior art vehicle has employed agolf cart as the steering section of an articulate power driven landvehicle nor has such section been made removable to permit of manuallypropelling the cart.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Applicant has produced an articulate powerdriven land vehicle having a seat for the operator and a detachable golfcart used for steering the vehicle and adapted to be detached and usedas a manually operated golf cart.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a land vehicle illustrating anembodiment of the invention and with a golf bag mounted thereon.

FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view of the vehicle shown in FIG. 1 and takenon line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and with the golf bag removed.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view of a modification ofthe invention.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan sectional view of the structure shown inFIG. 3 and taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a viewsimilar to FIG. 1 showing the invention applied to afoldable type of golf cart.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the golf cart with the tractor removed.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the pivoted steering means of theinvention used with the form of the invention shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a detail sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

The instant invention comprises an articulate power driven land vehicleindicated in its entirety by the reference character A. This vehicleincludes a rear section B serving as a power truck and a front section Cin the form of a golf bag cart. These sections are pivotally connectedtogether by means of steering means D and by means of which the twosections may be disconnected and the front section used as a manuallydriven golf cart.

POWER TRUCK The rear section A serves as a power truck which comprises aframe structure 10 having a lower frame 11 and an upper frame 12. Thelower frame is constructed with longitudinal frame members 13 and withtransverse frame members 14. The frame 12 is constructed withlongitudinal frame members 15 and transverse frame members 16. Betweenthe two frames 11 and 12 are posts 17. The frame members and posts areall welded together to form a unitary frame structure. Extending beneaththe frame 11 is a tongue 18 which is secured to the frame members 14 andwhich extends forwardly of said frame.

Attached to the under side of the frame members 13 of frame 11 arebearings 22 which rotatably support the two parts of a divided live axle23. The parts of this axle have mounted on them ground engaging drivingwheels 24 which, when the shaft 23 is rotated, serve to propel thevehicle A forwardly. Mounted on the parts of axle 23 is a differential25 for preventing slippage between the wheels when making a turn andwhose rotary member is driven by a transmission 31. This, however,forming no particular feature of the invention and being well known inthe art has not been shown in detail in the drawings.

For driving the wheels a gasoline engine 30 has been sketchily shown inFIG. 1 and similarly the reduction transmission 31. This transmissionincludes a clutch 33 by means of which the vehicle may be driven or not,without stopping the engine. Such construction being well known in theart has not been shown in detail and any suitable driving and controlmeans may be used.

On the tongue 18 is mounted a foot rest 34 and adjacent the same are twopedals, 35 and 36, which are pivoted to bearing means 37 fast on thetongue 18. These pedals have links 38 and 39 connected to them whichextend rearwardly thereof. The pedal 35 is connected to the carburetorvalve of the engine and the link 39 is connected to the clutch and brakeand operates in its rearward position to let the clutch in and in itsforward position to let the clutch out and apply the brakes.

A board 26 overlies the frame 12 and is secured thereto. A cushion 27rests upon the board 26 and serves as a seat for the operator of thevehicle.

FRONT SECTION For the purpose of explaining the invention, a golf bag 40has been shown in FIG. 1 which has a bottom 41 a flexible tubularcontainer 42 secured thereto and formed with an open end through whichthe golf clubs may be inserted into the same. The bag has a collar 43attached to the upper end of the same which may be constructed ofleather or some similar material and which holds the bag open for thereception of the clubs. A similar collar 44 encircles the bag at thelower end of the same. The bag also has a handle 45 by means of which itmay be carried and a pocket 46 for golf balls.

The golf bag 40 is mounted on a golf bag supporting means 50 whichincludes an elongated member 51 in the font! of an elongated bar. Thisbar has secured to its upper and lower ends saddles 52 and 53 which arearcuate in form and fit about portions of the bag at the localities ofthe collars 43 and 44. Attached to these saddles are straps 54 and 55which encircle the bag at the collars 43 and 44. The bag 40 rests on ashell 56 extending outwardly from supporting means 60 having a plate 57overlying the lower end of the elongated member 51. Rivet 58 extendsthrough the plate 57, the elongated member 51 and the saddle 53 andholds the parts assembled.

The golf bag supporting means 50 is carried by two ground engaging freerunning wheels 62 which are rotatably mounted on an axle 63 disposed ina tubular axle housing 64. Issuing downwardly from the attachment 57 isa bracket 65 which is welded to the axle housing 64. This bracket has aflange 68' STEERING MEANS The steering means C utilizes a hanger 71which has a flange 72 underlying the elongated member 51 of thesupporting means 50. Overlying said elongated member is a cap 73 whichis bolted to the flange 72 by bolts 74 and thus clamps hanger 71 to saidelongated member. With this construction the hanger may be adjustablypositioned on the elongated member. At the lower end of the hanger 71 iswelded to it a horizontal arm 75 which is in the form of a circular discserving as the fifth wheel of a vertical axis steering device. Extendingthrough the arm 75 and tongue 18 is a post 77 which is also welded tosaid arm and extending upwardly above the same. The end of the tongue 18has welded to it on the under side of the same, a circular plate 78 andto the upper side of the same a flanged bearing 79. This bearing, thetongue 18 and plate 78 is drilled to receive the post 77 with the plate78 resting upon the arm 75. A cotter key 76 attached to the end of thebolt 77 serves to hold the parts assembled.

For steering the vehicle, a handle 80 is employed which has a hand grip81 at one end and a drilled fitting 82 at its other end. This fittingfits between the sides of a U-shaped clip 83 and a bolt 84 extendsthrough both said fitting and clips and guides the handle 80 forswinging movement about the bolt as an axis. A wing nut 85 on said boltclamps the handle 80 in position. The clip 83 and the saddle 52 are heldattached to the upper end of the elongated member 51 by means of a rivetnot shown which passes through the saddle 52 and said elongated member.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 a modification of the invention is shown in which thesame reference characters have been used to designate the correspondingparts. In this modification the hanger 71 has been dispensed with and afifth wheel 91 substituted in place of the arm 75. This wheel is weldedto the axle housing 64 and has a stub axle 92 issuing upwardly therefromand taking the place of the bolt 77. The construction on the tongue 18remains the same and is applied to the stub axle 92 in the same manneras with the other form of the invention.

While the invention as shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 has been illustratedas applied to a golf cart, the wheels of which are mounted on a singleaxle, the device can also be applied to a foldable golf cart as shown inFIGS. 5, 6 and 7 and in which the wheels are supported on separate axlesand are adapted to be moved toward the elongated member of the golf bagsupporting means.

Since the rear section of the invention and the golf bag supportingmeans of the two disclosures are practically the same, the descriptionof these parts will not be repeated and the same reference numerals usedto designate the same parts.

In FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 the wheels 62 are mounted on stub axles 101 and 102.These axles have upwardly inclined short extensions, 103 and 104 and towhich are pivoted upwardly inclined pairs of rods 1115 and I06. Theupper ends of these rods are pivoted between spaced plates 107 and 108secured to the elongated member 51. To prevent the wheels 62 fromspreading when the cart is erected, a folding brace 111 is employedwhich is pivoted to the rods 106. In addition, a tie rod 112 is employedwhich is secured to the stub axles 101 and 102 by means of U-bolts 113.

At the lower end of the elongated member 51 are provided two spacedplates 113 and 114 which are welded to said member and which extendforwardly of the same. The attachment 57 carrying the shelf 56 is weldedto the forward edges of these plates. In addition, a horizontallyextending tube 115 is disposed between the lower portions of the plates113 and 114 and welded thereto. Rotatably mounted in the tube 115 is ashaft 116 which has a threaded pin 117 movable in an arcuate slot 118 intube 115 and screwed into said shaft to restrain endwise movement of theshaft while permitting limited rotary movement of the same.

The shaft 1 16 has extending upwardly from the same as post 121 which isjournaled in a bearing 122 welded to the end of the tongue 18 of thetractor section B. The post 121 has a collar 123 fixed to it near thebottom of the same. Welded to the underside of tongue 18 is a collar1241 receiving post 121 and resting on collar 123. A cotter key 119extending through the upper end of post 121 holds the parts assembled.Issuing from the bearing 122 is a plate 125 which has dependingtherefrom on each side of the tongue 18 a pin 126 and between which anextension 127 of shaft 116 swings. These pins serve as stops to limitthe turning of the golf cart into engagement with the foot rest 34 andpedals 35 and 36.

The advantages of the invention are manifest. The vehicle readilycarries both the golfer and his equipment. The golf bag supporting meanstogether with the free running ground engaging wheels and the handleconnected thereto forms the can be accom lished quickly. By the use ofthe hanger which is left attache to the e ongated member, the rearsection constituting the power truck may be hitched to existing golfcarts. When sold as a complete unit the hitch may be permanently appliedto the cart as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 or to any suitable part of thefront section or golf cart. While a gasoline engine has been shown asthe motive power, the power truck may be driven by a battery operatingon electric motor connected to the driving wheels by a suitabletransmission as is now well known in the art.

What I believe to be new and desire to be covered by Letters Patent isset forth in the following claims.

1 claim:

1. An articulate power driven pusher-type land vehicle with removablefront section comprising:

a. a frame,

b. ground engaging driving wheels rotatably mounted on said frame,

0. power means on said frame wheels,

(I. a tongue attached to said frame and extending forwardly thereof,

e. a seat carried by said frame and disposed in proximity to said powermeans,

f. golf bag supporting means adapted to hold a golf bag,

g. ground engaging free running wheel means carried by said bagsupporting means and including h. an elongated member,

i. a handle attached to said bag supporting means and extending towardsaid seat,

j. pivotal steering means acting between said tongue and supportingmeans and including k. pivot means having a substantially horizontalaxis, and

l. pivot means having a substantially vertical axis,

m. said last-named pivot means including n. a substantially verticallydisposed stub axle carried by the supporting means and o. a bushingmounted on the tongue for the reception of the stub axle and detachablefrom the stub axle.

2. A vehicle according to claim 1 in which:

a. the free running wheels are journaled in b. spaced bearings connectedtogether by c. a transverse member forming part of the supporting means,

d. and said substantially vertical stub axle extends upwardly from saidtransverse member.

3. A vehicle according to claim 1 in which:

a. a circular plate encircles the stub axle and is fixed relativethereto and serves as a fifth wheel, and

b. a similar plate encircling the stub axle engages the fifth wheel andis fixed relative to the tongue.

41. A vehicle according to claim 1 in which:

a. the horizontal pivot means includes a bearing secured to theelongated member and extending in a longitudinal direction, and

b. a shaft is journaled in said bearing.

5. A vehicle according to claim 4 in which:

a. the bearing has an arcuate slot and b. the bearing shaft has adetachable member extending outwardly therefrom and movable in said slotto limit the relative movement between the bearing and shaft.

and driving said driving

1. An articulate power driven pusher-type land vehicle with removablefront section comprising: a. a frame, b. ground engaging driving wheelsrotatably mounted on said frame, c. power means on said frame anddriving said driving wheels, d. a tongue attached to said frame andextending forwardly thereof, e. a seat carried by said frame anddisposed in proximity to said power means, f. golf bag supporting meansadapted to hold a golf bag, g. ground engaging free running wheel meanscarried by said bag supporting means and including h. an elongatedmember, i. a handle attached to said bag supporting means and extendingtoward said seat, j. pivotal steering means acting between said tongueand supporting means and including k. pivot means having a substantiallyhorizontal axis, and l. pivot means having a substantially verticalaxis, m. said last-named pivot means including n. a substantiallyvertically disposed stub axle carried by the supporting means and o. abushing mounted on the tongue for the reception of the stub axle anddetachable from the stub axle.
 2. A vehicle according to claim 1 inwhich: a. the free running wheels are journaled in b. spaced bearingsconnected together by c. a transverse member forming part of thesupporting means, d. and said substantially vertical stub axle extendsupwardly from said transverse member.
 3. A vehicle according to claim 1in which: a. a circular plate encircles the stub axle and is fixedrelative thereto and serves as a fifth wheel, and b. a similar plateencircling the stub axle engages the fifth wheel and is fixed relativeto the tongue.
 4. A vehicle according to claim 1 in which: a. thehorizontal pivot means includes a bearing secured to the elongatedmember and extending in a longitudinal direction, and b. a shaft isjournaled in said bearing.
 5. A vehicle according to claim 4 in which:a. the bearing has an arcuate slot and b. the bearing shaft has adetachable member extending outwardly therefrom and movable in said slotto limit the relative movement between the bearing and shaft.